Three arrested in Free State as Wesselsbron police close in on Monyakeng killing

Three men have been arrested and charged with murder over the fatal shooting of Mamokgwa Simon Leeto in Monyakeng, Wesselsbron, South African Police Service (SAPS) said in a statement issued through the office of the Free State provincial commissioner.

Leeto, 23, was shot and declared dead on the scene on 17 October 2026. A murder case was registered and three males were identified as possible suspects.

SAPS said Wesselsbron detectives were on investigation duty on the evening of Monday, 26 October when an interview with a possible witness produced information on the description and whereabouts of one of the suspects. That information was acted on in the early hours of Tuesday, 27 October, taking police to an address in Riebeeckstad, Welkom, where the suspect fitting the description was arrested.

Further information on the two remaining suspects was received and followed. Wesselsbron detectives, working with the Welkom Anti-Gang Unit, traced and apprehended them in Thabong.

Katleho Molaoa, 24, Tshepo Morabe, 24, and Andries Kombelane, 37, appeared in the Wesselsbron Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 28 October on a charge of murder. They remain in custody and are due back in the same court on 11 November for a bail application.

The statement gives the ages of the three arrested men as between 24 and 27. It does not reconcile that range with the ages it lists for the accused.

SAPS said the motive for the killing remains unclear and forms part of ongoing investigations. No further detail on the circumstances of the shooting was provided.

Enquiries: Sergeant Palesa Thabana, 079 528 4811.

Source: South African Police Service (SAPS), https://www.saps.gov.za/newsroom/msspeechdetail.php?nid=72150